Destinations — Southeast Florida
Write destination and day trip cards for SE Florida captains.
Offshore Destinations
Blue Water Fishing Grounds
- •Sailfish Alley — 120-200 ft depths off Lighthouse Point. December-April prime sailfish season
- •Gulf Stream Edge — 3-5 miles offshore. Follow temperature breaks for mahi and billfish
- •Jupiter Ledge — Natural reef system 10-15 miles offshore. Grouper, snapper, cobia
- •Fowey Rocks — 15 miles southeast of Miami. Historic lighthouse, good fishing
- •Miami-Dade Artificial Reef Program — Multiple wrecks 3-20 miles offshore
Bahamas (From SE Florida)
- •Bimini — 50 miles from Fort Lauderdale. Customs, fuel, restaurants. Big game fishing headquarters
- •Nassau — 180 miles from Fort Lauderdale. Full services, Atlantis resort
- •Grand Bahama — Freeport/Lucaya. 60 miles from Palm Beach. Good customs port
- •Berry Islands — Great Harbour Cay. Quiet anchorages, good fishing
Nearshore Destinations
Reefs and Wrecks
- •Deerfield Beach Reef — Shallow diving, snorkeling. 1-3 miles offshore
- •Pompano Beach Reef — Artificial and natural reefs. Good for families
- •Fort Lauderdale Reef Tract — Multiple sites 1-5 miles offshore
- •Jupiter Wreck Trek — Multiple artificial reefs off Jupiter
Scenic Runs
- •Hillsboro Lighthouse — Historic lighthouse, photo opportunity
- •Jupiter Lighthouse — Iconic red lighthouse, Jupiter Inlet
- •Port Everglades — Watch cruise ships and mega yachts (stay clear of commercial traffic)
Inshore Destinations
ICW Highlights
- •Manatee Pocket — Port Salerno. Hurricane hole, restaurants, fuel
- •Lake Worth — Protected anchorage, access to West Palm Beach
- •New River — Fort Lauderdale's downtown waterfront
- •Hillsboro Canal — Quiet backcountry, manatee habitat
Rivers and Creeks
- •Loxahatchee River — Jupiter. Cypress trees, manatees, quiet anchorages
- •New River Forks — Fort Lauderdale backcountry. Nature preserve
- •Middle River — Fort Lauderdale. Quiet residential waterway
Sandbar Scenes
- •Sandbar at Peanut Island — Palm Beach. Popular weekend hangout
- •Haulover Sandbar — North of Miami. Party scene, very crowded weekends
- •No Name Harbor — Bill Baggs State Park. Quiet alternative to Haulover
Day Trip Ideas
Half-Day Trips (2-4 hours)
- •Jupiter Inlet to Loxahatchee River — Scenic river run, manatee watching
- •Fort Lauderdale New River loop — Urban sightseeing, mega yacht watching
- •Hillsboro Inlet reef fishing — Quick offshore fishing trip
Full-Day Trips (6-8 hours)
- •Gulf Stream fishing — Early departure, blue water fishing, back for dinner
- •Bimini day trip — Customs, lunch, fishing, back same day (calm weather only)
- •ICW cruise north — Jupiter to Stuart, explore Manatee Pocket
Weekend Trips
- •Bahamas weekend — Nassau or Bimini, fuel, dining, fishing
- •Florida Keys — Islamorada or Key Largo, lobster diving, fishing
- •Stuart/Port Salerno — Explore St. Lucie River system
Seasonal Considerations
Winter (Dec-Mar)
- •Bahamas runs — Best weather window for ocean crossings
- •Sailfish Alley trips — Prime billfish season
- •ICW cruising — Comfortable temperatures, less traffic
Summer (May-Sep)
- •Early morning departures — Beat afternoon storms
- •River and ICW trips — Avoid afternoon lightning
- •Inshore fishing — Better than bucking Gulf Stream in rough weather
Hurricane Season (Jun-Nov)
- •Local trips only — Stay within radio range of home port
- •Bahamas trips — Watch weather carefully, have exit strategy
Port32 Tie-ins
- •Fort Lauderdale: Perfect for New River sightseeing, close to reef fishing
- •Lighthouse Point: Gateway to Sailfish Alley, quick access to blue water
- •Palm Beach Gardens: Jupiter Inlet access, Loxahatchee River, Bahamas gateway
Card Types
- •Destination spotlight — one location, how to get there, what to do, where to anchor
- •Day trip itinerary — complete plan with timing, fuel stops, lunch spots
- •Weekend cruise guide — multi-day trip planning
- •Seasonal destination guide — best places to go this time of year
Research Before Writing
- •Check current weather and sea conditions
- •Verify fuel availability at destinations
- •Note any seasonal closures or restrictions
- •Include GPS coordinates for key waypoints